NEW FOCUS MICROPLASTICS

Stop replenishment!

The topic of microplastic has been known since the 1970s and has been more or less shadowy. Today, microplastics is increasingly on everyone’s lips. Suddenly it comes back in the form of food from the sea back to the countries of origin. In the sea, the amount of plastic increases continuously. The five plastic islands in the oceans with macroplastic, the precursor to secondary microplastics, are growing permanently. The islands are now to be reduced media effective. But is that a substantial contribution? – Only 20% of plastic waste in the sea is floating on the surface, i. up to 30 meters below the water surface. 80% are – at present irretrievably – on the seabed. In Germany, macroplastic accounts for 26% of plastic emissions [from Frauenhofer UMSICHT]. The bulk is microplastic.

Impact on human-beings

The logical conclusion is that plastic emissions must be reduced. Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT demands a reduction to a 27th. In the retail sector, initiatives are being taken to save plastic in order not to bring plastic to the market. The sewage treatment plants in Germany achieve a deposition of the microplastic by 95%, with 35% of the microplastic being applied again as sewage sludge.

In Germany, 22% of the wastewater (62% of the rainwater and less than 1% of the wastewater) is not treated in sewage treatment plants, but discharged into our inland waters unpurified. This happens at overflows in the sewer system as soon as they have to be relieved of an event such as heavy rain. At this critical point, the use of modern fine rakes is a must. Advanced operators are familiar with HST solutions for overflows or are already using them. According to the current state of knowledge, the combined sewage system with its 13% share of unexplained precipitation water is far more efficient in terms of plastic retention than the separation system with 43%. The concentration of particles / m3 is significantly higher in inland and coastal waters than in the high seas. Therefore, recovery in these areas is also particularly effective.

In less developed infrastructure regions, in addition to the micro- and the macroplastic, water flows unhindered. Here the importance of meaning shifts to macroplastic. This shift is compounded by the fact that in many countries there is no deposit and often no collection system. The result is rivers with a closed plastic layer.

HST Systemtechnik has long been committed to the reduction of plastic emissions. Initially, by assisting ocean-going projects such as Pacific Garbage Screening to dump the macro-plastic islands, HST is now shifting its focus, according to scientific evidence, to reducing the entry of microplastics from inland waters across rivers, harbors, and coastal waters. The plastic waste is thus cut off the supply.

Even today, HST technology, with its digitized, intelligent rake and artificial intelligence, holds back a maximum of microplastics from the amounts of tee water. Based on the optimal control of the freight flows in the channel, the HST rake is only cleaned depending on the event. As a result, a filter cake accumulates in front of the rake, which retains not only macroplastic but also microplastics and other fines and suspended matter. This affects the 22% share of unpurified wastewater, making it an essential step in reducing plastic emissions.

Impact on the ecosystem

Negative effect on organisms by strangulation

Effects on organisms by ingestion and excretion (Egestion); through accumulation, translocation and transfer within the food chain

Chemical hazards due to release of additives, monomers and critical metabolites

To move further towards the reduced emissions target of 3.7%, new technologies are needed to stop microplastic replenishment from inland waters. To this end, HST initiates a university challenge among the brightest minds. In the autumn of 2019, a competition will be launched for the best solution for extracting plastic emissions from inland waters. The best solution will be included in the product portfolio by HST.

Everybody has to do his part so that the problem of plastic waste in waters does not increase any further and above all does not get lost in discussions. The share of urban water management is considerable. Where rakes are used today, the macroplastic can already be absorbed. A contribution against microplastics and other suspended and fines is so far only the HSR rake with IntelliScreen. The ecological Effizeinz is significantly increased by the use of an Intelli-led channel management and finds its current maximum efficiency through the inclusion of the precipitation portal Nira.web. This system technology by HST means that only a fraction of the microplastic, which is normally chipped off through thresholds, first reaches inland waters and then into oceans.

Definitions Plastic types and fractions
(Fraunhofer – BMU)

Production using a product (transport, infrastructure, buildings etc.) - 89%

Secondary microplastic

arises from the decomposition of macroplastic

See BMU 2015 p. 10f – does not differentiate between type A and type B

Classification and designation of plastic waste

Diameter of plastic waste in the sea

English term

German translation

Typical dimensions of affected living beings

Typical dimensions of industrial applications of plastic

> 25 mm

Macroplastic

Macro plastic parts

Vertebrates, birds

Semi-finished products and final product

5 - 25 mm

Mesoplastic

Mesokunststoff-parts

Birds, fish

Semi-finished products and granules (pellets)

1 - 5 mm

Large microplastic-
particle

Large microparticles made of plastic

Fish, shellfish

Granules (pellets)

< 1 mm

Small microplastic particle

Small microparticles made of plastic

Shells, plankton

Microparticles in the cosmetics industry

Classification and designation of plastic waste in the sea on the basis of their size compared to typical dimensions of affected animals and industrial applications of. Plastic (Source: own illustration after JRC 2013, STAP 2011)